Tuesday, August 11, 2015

2015 California Wine Month: Celebrate the grape in Sonoma, California

Chardonnay Grapes - Sonoma County Tourism

I grew up in the San Francisco area. A Sunday drive to the
Napa-Sonoma wine country was always a treat. And, Sonoma is still a major wine
destination.

With harvest officially underway in Sonoma County, wineries are welcoming
visitors with special events throughout September’s California Wine Month. From
picking and crushing grapes to exclusive tastings and concerts, Sonoma County’s
over 500 wineries offer a range of events to maximize guests’ wine country
experience.

Every Wednesday throughout September, the public is invited
to enjoy Paradise Ridge wine while watching spectacular sunsets over the Russian
River Valley. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends with the setting of the
sun. The event showcases local food vendors and live music on the winery’s
expansive veranda and poetry terrace. Tickets are $5 for wine club members, $8
for advance tickets and $10 at the door if available. For more information,
visit www.prwinery.com.

This highly-anticipated weekend is Sonoma County’s signature
event and one of the top-three national charity wine events named by Wine
Spectator magazine. The event brings together over 200 of Sonoma’s top
winemakers and growers, along with 60 of the area’s best chefs. Since its
inception, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend has raised over $16 million for
charities that benefit students, children, farm workers and people in need in
the local community. The weekend includes intimate lunches and dinners at an
array of winery properties, followed by the Sonoma Harvest Auction on Sunday.
Tickets range from $85 to $500. For more information, visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.

Throughout the month of September, Sebastini Vineyard &
Winery will host the Friday Night Music Series. Visitors can enjoy live music
from a variety of musicians in the vineyard’s tasting room starting at 6:00
p.m. The winery will present “Food Truck Friday” on the last Friday of the
month, featuring an enticing lineup of local gourmet trucks. The event is free
for attendees. Wine is available for purchase by the glass and by the bottle.
The following bands will be performing:

Roth Estate Winery celebrates the opening of the new tasting
room with Adults at Play, a Friday night event withwine
specials, small bite appetizers, outdoor games and live entertainment from 5:00
to 8:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and wine and food will be available
for purchase. For more information, visit www.rothwinery.com.

Surrounded by acres of vineyards, visitors are invited to
listen to George Benson perform at Rodney Strong Vineyards intimate concert
venue, The Green at 5:00 p.m. Benson, a musical icon and ten-time Grammy Award
winning guitarist is known for his engaging blend of pop, R&B and jazz
styles, alongside his formidable vocal talent. General admission tickets are
$75 and VIP seating is $110. For more information, visit www.rodneystrong.com.

Sommelier Nicole Kosta will take visitors on a hike through
the information and provide insider information on the soil, vines and
geography of the area, while enjoying some sips of wine. After the hike, the
winery will present a seated tasting of the rest of the current releases along
with a brunch. Vineyard tour and tasting is $50 per person. For more
information, visit www.duttongoldfield.com.

Seghesio Family Vineyard presents its first annual Harvest
Homecoming celebrating their 120th Anniversary from 4:00 to 7:00
p.m. The event will mark the release of the 2012 vintage of the most limited
production wine, Chianti Station. General tickets are $75, including food and
wine, parking and entertainment. VIP tickets are $150, including a VIP wine
reception and opportunity to acquire limited vintages of Home Ranch Zinfandel
and library vintages of Chianti Station. For more information, visit www.seghesio.com.

Lancaster Estate will host the annual Lancaster Fall Harvest
Celebration from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., highlighting the release of the 2012 Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon. The celebration will include seasonal food and wine
pairings along with the exclusive opportunity to sample wine from the barrels
and purchase the limited production of Cabernet Franc. The event is open to
wine club members and the general public. Guild members receive four
complimentary tickets. VIP library tasting pre-party is $65; Member tickets are
$45; General public tickets are $65. For more information, visit www.lancaster-estate.com.

Known as the ultimate getaway for food and wine lovers, the
ninth annual Sonoma County Grape Camp is an experiential vacation that offers a
hands-on experience harvesting grapes and blending wine during harvest season
on various vineyards. Campers will have exclusive access to the influential
grape growers, winemakers and chefs who help make Sonoma County a world-class
culinary destination. Cost for Grape Camp 2015 is $2,000 per person and $3,700
per couple. Price includes three nights’ accommodations at Vintners Inn, meals,
tastings and transportation during camp. For more information, visit www.sonomagrapecamp.com.

Tasting til’ Twilight continues at Matanzas Creek Winery
with seasonal extended hours through September 26. The tasting room will remain
open until 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings for guests to enjoy wine tastings,
picnicking, bocce ball or simply relaxing in the beauty of the vineyard. The
winery will also present live music on Friday nights. For more information,
visit www.matanzascreek.com.

The Kendall Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens are again
playing host to the annual Heirloom Tomato Festival, now in its 19th
consecutive year. Tickets provide all-day access to samplings of more than 150
varieties of heirloom tomatoes – grown in the Kendall-Jackson culinary gardens
– a chef competition featuring Bravo’s Top Chef contenders and tomato-inspired
dishes from nearly 50 prominent wine country and Bay Area restaurant chefs and
food purveyors. The festival will also feature wine tasting, live music by
Grammy nominated Andre Thierry and educational wine and garden seminars.
General admission tickets for the Heirloom Tomato Festival are $95 and $175 for
Premier Access tickets, with exclusive pricing available for Kendall-Jackson
wine club members. For more information, visit www.kj.com/visit-tomato-festival.

Sbragia Family Vineyards will host the annual Harvest Moon
Dinner from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. where guests can enjoy a gourmet four-course meal
prepared by John Ash with wine pairings and live music by New Skye. After
dinner, the winery will offer tastings of the 2005 Cabernet magnums to
celebrate 10 years of Sbragia Family Vineyards. General public tickets are $195
and wine club member tickets are $165. For more information, visit www.sbragia.com.

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair marks its 41st
year of showcasing the county’s grand harvest with world-class wines, award
winning beers and a plethora of culinary wealth. Each October, travelers from
over thirty different states are invited to Santa Rosa to participate in the
farm-to-table experience, inspired by the county’s hard working farmers,
ranchers, vintners and producers. The epicenter of the Harvest Fair is the
Grand Tasting Pavilion, which features over 100 Sonoma County wineries bringing
forth the best varietals of sampling. Tickets range from $5 to $125. For more information,
visit www.harvestfair.org.

Travelers are invited to experience an insider’s view of
world-class wineries with two days of exclusive tours. The excursion provides
an in-depth history of Sonoma Valley and behind the scenes visits to four
different wineries, chauffeur transportation and lunch. For more information,
visit www.reservesonomavalley.com.

Pinot on the River will occur on October 25 from 11:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. in the Russian River Valley town of Healdsburg. The day features
tastings, seminars, vineyard tours and guest artisan food vendors focused on
limited-production Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County and other top regions along
the West Coast. Advance tickets are $75 and $100 at the door. For more
information, visit www.pinotfestival.com.

How do I start? First of all, I have to say that I had an absolutely fabulous time touring Boise, Idaho for upcoming articles in Wander With...

Cinnamon's Blog

Search This Blog

FTC Disclosure

This blog highlights destinations, experiences and products I feel readers will enjoy. In all cases, I have written my honest opinion about my experiences. Your experience may differ. In some cases I have been hosted for these experiences.

Some posts contains affiliate links which means that if you click on one of the product links to book a hotel or make a purchase, I’ll receive a small referral fee. Your support will help keep this website running….thank you!